Canada to impose more sanctions on Ukraine

Kiev protests

Anti-government protesters help an injured man during clashes with riot police at Independence Square in Kiev February 18, 2014. Ukrainian riot police advanced on Tuesday onto a central Kiev square occupied by protesters, after at least 14 people died in the worst day of violence since demonstrations erupted against President Viktor Yanukovich 12 weeks ago. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko REUTERS

Anti-government protesters take cover behind shields near fires at a tent encampment during clashes with riot police at Independence Square in Kiev early February 19, 2014. Ukrainian riot police charged protesters occupying the square early on Wednesday after the bloodiest day since the former Soviet republic, caught in a geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West, won its independence. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko REUTERS

Anti-government protesters gather near fires at a tent encampment during clashes with riot police in Independence Square in Kiev February 19, 2014. Ukrainian riot police battled protesters occupying a central Kiev square after the bloodiest day since the former Soviet republic, caught in a geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West, won its independence more than 22 years ago. REUTERS/Konstantin Chernichkin REUTERS

Riot police beat an anti-government protester during clashes in Kiev February 18, 2014. Ukrainian riot police charged protesters occupying a central Kiev square early on Wednesday after the bloodiest day since the former Soviet republic, caught in a geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West, won its independence. REUTERS/Stringer REUTERS

An injured man is helped by anti-government protesters during clashes with riot police in Independence Square in Kiev February 19, 2014. Ukrainian riot police charged protesters occupying a central Kiev square early on Wednesday after the bloodiest day since the former Soviet republic, caught in a geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West, won its independence. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili REUTERS

An anti-government protester throws a tire during clashes with riot police at the Independence Square in Kiev February 18, 2014. Ukrainian riot police charged protesters occupying a central Kiev square early on Wednesday after the bloodiest day since the former Soviet republic, caught in a geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West, won its independence. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili REUTERS

Anti-government protesters look out from barricades during clashes with riot police in Independence Square in Kiev February 18, 2014. Ukrainian riot police charged protesters occupying the central Kiev square early on Wednesday after the bloodiest day since the former Soviet republic, caught in a geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West, won its independence. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko REUTERS

Ukranian riot police take cover behind their shields during clashes with anti-government protesters near Independence Square in Kiev February 18, 2014. Ukrainian riot police battled protesters occupying a central Kiev square after the bloodiest day since the former Soviet republic, caught in a geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West, won its independence more than 22 years ago. REUTERS/Konstantin Chernichkin REUTERS

Anti-government protesters take cover behind shields during clashes with riot police at the Independence Square in Kiev February 18, 2014. Ukrainian riot police started to move into Kiev's Independence Square late on Tuesday, pushing back anti-government protesters whose tents were burning, local television showed. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili REUTERS

Riot policemen detain wounded people after clashes in central Kiev February 18, 2014. Ukrainian riot police charged protesters occupying a central Kiev square early on Wednesday after the bloodiest day since the former Soviet republic, caught in a geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West, won its independence more than 22 years ago. At least 18 people, including seven policemen, died on Tuesday during hours of violence between security forces and civilians who have staged protests against President Viktor Yanukovich since last November. REUTERS/Stringer REUTERS

An injured man is helped by anti-government protesters during clashes with riot police in Independence Square in Kiev February 19, 2014. Ukrainian riot police battled protesters occupying a central Kiev square after the bloodiest day since the former Soviet republic, caught in a geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West, won its independence more than 22 years ago. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili REUTERS

An anti-government protester throws a stone during clashes with riot police at the Independence Square in Kiev February 18, 2014. Ukrainian riot police charged protesters occupying a central Kiev square early on Wednesday after the bloodiest day since the former Soviet republic, caught in a geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West, won its independence. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili REUTERS

Fireworks explode amid flames during clashes between anti-government protesters and riot police at Kiev's Independence Square February 18, 2014. Ukrainian riot police charged protesters occupying a central Kiev square early on Wednesday after the bloodiest day since the former Soviet republic, caught in a geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West, won its independence. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili REUTERS

An anti-government protester gestures towards riot police during clashes in Independence Square in Kiev February 18, 2014. Ukrainian riot police advanced on Tuesday onto a central Kiev square occupied by protesters, after at least 14 people died in the worst day of violence since demonstrations erupted against President Viktor Yanukovich 12 weeks ago. REUTERS/Konstantin Chernichkin REUTERS

An anti-government protester throws a tire during clashes with riot police at the Independence Square in Kiev February 18, 2014. Ukrainian riot police charged protesters occupying a central Kiev square early on Wednesday after the bloodiest day since the former Soviet republic, caught in a geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West, won its independence. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili REUTERS

Fireworks explode amid flames during clashes between anti-government protesters and riot police at Kiev's Independence Square February 18, 2014. Ukrainian riot police charged protesters occupying a central Kiev square early on Wednesday after the bloodiest day since the former Soviet republic, caught in a geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West, won its independence. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili REUTERS

Riot policemen approach anti-government protesters during clashes at the Independence Square in Kiev February 18, 2014. Ukrainian riot police charged protesters occupying a central Kiev square early on Wednesday after the bloodiest day since the former Soviet republic, caught in a geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West, won its independence. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili REUTERS

Anti-government protesters gather near fires at a tent encampment during clashes with riot police in Independence Square in Kiev February 19, 2014. Ukrainian riot police battled protesters occupying a central Kiev square after the bloodiest day since the former Soviet republic, caught in a geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West, won its independence more than 22 years ago. REUTERS/Konstantin Chernichkin REUTERS

Anti-government protesters carry an injured man on a stretcher after clashes with riot police in Independence Square in Kiev February 20, 2014. Ukrainian anti-government protesters on Thursday seized back control of Kiev's Independence Square, television pictures showed, after fresh clashes broke out there with riot police. REUTERS/Maks LevinREUTERS

An anti-government protester advances through a burning barricade in Kiev's Independence Square February 20, 2014. Ukrainian protesters hurling petrol bombs and paving stones drove riot police from the central square in Kiev on Thursday despite a "truce" which embattled Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich said he had agreed with opposition leaders. REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis REUTERS

People rest inside Mikhailovsky Zlatoverkhy Cathedral ( St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery ), which serves as a temporary shelter and a first-aid post for anti-government protesters, in Kiev February 19, 2014. The injured, bloodied and bandaged, lay beneath icons and candles on the floor of St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery. As the death toll climbed from Ukraine's bloodiest day in two decades of independence, the wounded sought refuge on Wednesday beneath the bell tower of a sympathetic Kiev church. REUTERS/David MdzinarishviliREUTERS

Anti-government stand on a grass bank during clashes with riot police Independence Square in Kiev February 20, 2014. Ukrainian protesters hurling petrol bombs and paving stones drove riot police from the central square in Kiev on Thursday despite a "truce" which embattled Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich said he had agreed with opposition leaders. REUTERS/Maks Levin REUTERS

An anti-government protester advances through a burning barricade in Kiev's Independence Square February 20, 2014. Ukrainian protesters hurling petrol bombs and paving stones drove riot police from the central square in Kiev on Thursday despite a "truce" which embattled Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich said he had agreed with opposition leaders. REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis REUTERS

A man walks at the site of clashes between anti-government protesters with Interior Ministry and riot police in Kiev, February 19, 2014. Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich accused pro-European opposition leaders on Wednesday of trying to seize power by force after at least 26 people died in the worst violence since the former Soviet republic gained independence. REUTERS/Konstantin GrishinREUTERS

An anti-government protester stands behind a burning barricade in Kiev's Independence Square February 19, 2014. Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich accused pro-European opposition leaders on Wednesday of trying to seize power by force after at least 26 people died in the worst violence since the former Soviet republic gained independence. REUTERS/Yannis BehrakisREUTERS

A handout still image taken from video and provided by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty shows a riot police standing next to a sniper firing from a fortified position in the direction of protesters in Kiev February 20, 2014. REUTERS/Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Handout Reuters

People carry a dead body covered with sheet during the transfer of over a dozen of corpses from a hotel lobby to a local hospital following clashes with riot police at Independence Square in Kiev February 20, 2014. REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis REUTERS

Anti-government protesters set up a barricade using bricks in central Kiev February 20, 2014. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili REUTERS

An interior ministry soldier looks out as he stands on an armoured personnel carrier parked outside the parliament building in Kiev February 20, 2014. REUTERS/Andrew Kravchenko/PoolREUTERS

Anti-government protesters sit in front of a barricade in central Kiev February 20, 2014. REUTERS/David MdzinarishviliREUTERS

Anti-government protesters pass on bricks to help comrades to set up a barricade in central Kiev February 20, 2014. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili REUTERS

A general view shows anti-government protesters gathering around tents and barricades near Independence Square in central Kiev February 20, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko REUTERS

Anti-government protesters listen to speeches by their leaders in Kiev's Independence square early February 21, 2014. REUTERS/Yannis BehrakisREUTERS

A general view shows anti-government protesters gathering around tents and barricades near Independence Square in central Kiev February 20, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko REUTERS

An anti-government protester holds a wooden stick and a shield as he walks in central Kiev February 20, 2014. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili REUTERS

Anti-government protesters keep warm around an open fire in Kiev's Independence square early February 21, 2014. REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis REUTERS

OTTAWA — Canada will try to turn the screws on Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich with new sanctions on his regime as police continue to crack down on protesters in Kiev.

"Our government will be imposing an expanded travel ban, which will prevent senior members of the Ukrainian government and other officials who bear political responsibility for the violence from travelling to Canada," Immigration Minister Chris Alexander said Thursday.

The measure builds on a similar, but more limited, travel ban announced last month.

"We will also be imposing economic sanctions on the Yanukovich regime and its supporters," Alexander said.

The minister and former diplomat says the measures are needed "to demonstrate that Canada will no longer tolerate this violence and blatant disregard for human rights and democracy."

Prime Minister Stephen Harper also issued a statement about Ukraine, shortly before returning to Ottawa from the North American Leaders’ Summit in Mexico.

"It is our hope that these serious steps will convince the Ukrainian Government to seek a peaceful resolution to the crisis," Harper said. "We will continue to monitor developments in Ukraine, and, with our international allies, consider further options."

The sanctions Canada announced Thursday don’t include one of the key demands made a day earlier during an Ottawa vigil organized by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress — the deportation of anyone connected to the Yanukovich regime.

It’s not clear how many such people there are in Canada.

Earlier Thursday, the European Union also imposed sanctions on the Yanukovich regime.

Even before the new sanctions, some of Ukraine’s richest citizens had begun to ratchet the pressure on Yanukovich to reject violence against protesters.

"There are no circumstances which justify the use of force toward the peaceful population," said Rinat Akhmetov, who helped fund Yanukovich’s 2010 election campaign.

Ukraine has been teetering on the brink of civil war for three months after protesters spilled into the streets because Yanukovich rejected closer ties to the European Union in favour of a tighter relationship with Russia.

That relationship worries James Bezan, a Conservative MP of Ukrainian background.

"I guess the biggest concern is the influence that is coming from the north, from Russia, and whether or not we’re going to see more of an imperialistic relationship again between Russia and Ukraine," Bezan told Sun News Network.

Bezan says he’s also concerned by how brutally police have dealt with protesters in Kiev and elsewhere in Ukraine.

"Live ammunition has been used," he said. "This is starting to devolve into an authoritarian regime."

NDP foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar calls the situation in Ukraine "horrifying" and announced via Twitter he’d ask for an emergency parliamentary debate on it next week.

Video has appeared online showing government snipers in Kiev shooting protesters who were carrying sticks and shields.

Ukraine’s health ministry reports the death toll in Kiev since Tuesday is 75 — by far the worst violence since Ukraine emerged from the crumbling Soviet Union 22 years ago.

The Canadian Embassy in Kiev remains closed temporarily as a security precaution.

— With files from Reuters

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